Record Series 585 contains administrative files on the establishment of the Mental Retardation Research Center, including
proposals, research projections, annual reports, and floorplans.

Background

The Mental Retardation Program at UCLA and its sister programs throughout the country evolved from 95 action recommendations
made by the 1961-62 President's Panel on Mental Retardation. The Panel believed that significant strides could be made in
prevention and treatment of retardation if the nation as a whole confronted the problem head-on. Community awareness and citizen
interest and involvement were seen as necessary steps to advance the issue of retardation from the sole concern of a small
professional group into the concern of the populace as a whole. The Mental Retardation Research Center was established c.
1971 under the leadership of Professor George Tarjan, Departments of Psychiatry & Public Health. The aims of the Mental Retardation
Research Center were the acquisition of new knowledge on mental retardation and related aspects of human development, and
the training of personnel.

Extent

0.4 linear ft.
(1 box)

Restrictions

Copyright of portions of this collection is held by The Regents of the University of California. The UCLA University Archives
can grant permission to publish for materials to which it holds the copyright. All requests for permission to publish or quote
must be submitted in writing to the UCLA University Archivist.